How's The Building of Your House Coming Along?

"To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability.  The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.........

...... whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them."   ..... From Matthew 25

*****

Near Hobbit Cottage, dozens of houses began their life in the 1940's (50's?) looking exactly like this:

Cookie Cutter City, block after block. In fact, it was inside a similar house (with a side addition, even) where I nearly had an attack of claustrophobia at an estate sale because of all the people jammed inside and the brown everything.

Anyway.

What delights me are the houses which moved beyond their starting point, their basic structure, and went here:

...or here:

... or here:

I see the variety, the creativity and always recall what Pa Ingalls told Laura:

"A man can build any kind of house he can think of. So if his house don't keep out the weather, that's his look-out; he's free and independent."

And it comes to me that when we're born, we're each given a basic 'house', a body containing a soul and a spirit--and well--we are responsible for what we do with them. Will we stay small in spirit and in mind, using our imagination to imagine sad and fearful outcomes? Or hold onto grudges or laziness? Or try being like others rather than being ourselves?

 Or will we use our imagination and our faith and obedience to inspire us to grow, create and become free as God meant us?

Will we make excuses and blame others and keep our original basic size?

Or will we let God grow us up to something unique, something bolder, a better return for His investment like this?

... and this?

As Pa Ingalls said, the responsibility of what kind of 'house' we build is ours. And each day God is ever so willing to work with us, to change us, to set us free from the small boxes so easy to climb into and hide lest we get hurt in this world-gone-crazy.

But always, God has called us to something much better--if only we'd believe. If only we'd trust that He truly can make a way where there appears to be none at all.

Because He can, you know.

*****

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself..."   1 Corinthians 6:19

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free, indeed."   ... John 8:36

When God tells us to move on, He's there at that moment to help us drop our baggage and walk ahead, free.